Salmon Fire Update - July 23, 2026

Salmon Fire   

Northwest Team 12    

   July 23, 2026   

    Fire Information: (541) 407-5475, 8 AM - 8 PM    

 

Total Resources: 42 engines; 32 crews; 35 heavy equipment; 33 water tenders; 4 helicopters; 1,183 personnel

NW Team 12 will be hosting a community meeting in-person at Prairie City High School tonight at 6 PM. The meeting will also be streamed virtually on the Salmon Fire OR 2026 Facebook. The community is encouraged to submit questions ahead of time via email to ensure team members can address them in their presentations.

The National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning over much of eastern Oregon including the Salmon and Olive Butte Fire areas from 11 AM to 8 PM today for abundant lightning. Isolated to scattered dry thunderstorms are possible with gusty outflow winds that could contribute to rapid fire spread. Firefighters remain vigilant given the forecasted Red Flag conditions as well as the possibility of new lighting-caused fires. Fire resources from both fires remain available to assist with any new fire starts today.

Salmon Fire: Size: 1,433 acres | Start Date: July 8, 2026 | Cause: Lightning | Containment: 40%

Hotshots working in the North Fork John Day Wilderness have made excellent progress building fireline northward to Salmon Creek and are expected to tie the line into Salmon Creek working southward by today. To complete this connection, firefighters are using a combination of handline, hoselays, and cold trailing to locate and secure the fire’s edge. Firefighters are gaining depth in mop-up efforts, gridding for hotspots through thick duff layers and heavy fuels. Fire crews continue cleaning up vegetation removed during earlier operations using a chipper to dispose of previously cut limbs and brush along roadways. Excess water handling equipment around structures is being backhauled to be reconditioned for other fires.

Olive Butte Fire: Size: 3,010 acres | Start Date: July 8, 2026 | Cause: Lightning | Containment: 35%

Hotshot crews are nearing completion of handline in Lost Boy Gulch and expect to finish construction today. On the eastern flank of the fire, dozers are working as directly as possible to cut off a pocket of unburned fuel to prevent potential flare ups in the future. In other areas of the fire, firefighters continue strengthening containment by securing the fireline and expanding mop-up efforts farther into the fire’s interior. Engines are assisting with mop-up by patrolling for any smoldering hotspots and ensuring they are fully extinguished. Heavy equipment remains engaged in contingency line construction as an alternate fireline in the event conditions should change.

Weather and Smoke: Temperatures today will be 82-87 degrees with winds SW-W 4-8 mph, gusting to 12 mph.  With the forecasted Red Flag conditions, winds will be gusty and erratic near any thunderstorms. The NE Oregon Daily Smoke Outlook at the Oregon Smoke Information page covers the Salmon and Olive Butte Fires. For the latest information regarding smoke and air quality, check AirNow Fire and Smoke Map.

Evacuations: Residents should be prepared for changes in evacuation levels as fire conditions can change. Baker County Sheriff’s Office recently reduced evacuation levels for the Granite and Greenhorn communities. Heavy equipment and fire vehicles are still working in these areas, so please drive with caution and be alert for unexpected fire traffic on narrow roads. To sign up for notifications in your area, visit Grant County Everbridge or Baker County Alert.

Closures and Safety: The Salmon and Olive Butte Fire Area Closure and map has been updated. The public is asked to avoid the fire closure area for everyone’s safety and to facilitate firefighting efforts. There is a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) over the fire area. Unauthorized drone activity is prohibited under this TFR, as firefighting helicopters and aircraft cannot fly when drones are present.

InciWeb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/orumf-salmon-fire

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SalmonFireOR2026 

Salmon Fire Information: (541) 407-5475, 8 AM – 8 PM      Email: 2026.salmon@firenet.gov

Blue Mountains Fire Information: https://linktr.ee/2026.bluemountainfires